Ok, i'll exclude Prince and MJ from this list as they could fill it up themselves (actually most of these artists could have multiple entries). But just a few of my faves from the 80s. Making a mixtape, (my third) what would u recommend?

Gary Numan - Cars
The Reflex - Duran Duran
Wishing Well - TTD
Father Figure - George Michael
Don't U Forget About Me - Simple Minds
Promises Promises - Naked Eyes
Something About U - Level 42
With or Without U - U2
Wrapped Around Your Finger - The Police
Cult of Personality - Living Colour

There are so many great songs to pick, but these are my 3 favorites:

3. Take on Me - a-ha
2. Everybody Wants to Rule the World - Tears for Fears
1. Don't Dream It's Over - Crowded House

Isn't Gary Numan - Cars from '79?

Kings of the Wild Frontier - Adam and the Ants
Human Racing - Nik Kershaw
Word Up - Cameo (Obviously)
The Circus - Erasure
Little Lies - Fleetwood Mac
Friend or Foe - Adam Ant
Respect Yourself - Bruce Willis... I even used to try and do the little smirk smile!... me and twenty other boys at our school.
All of the singles off Kick by INXS
All of the singles off Introducing the Hardline by TTD
Hooverville by The Christians
The Colour of Money by Hollywood Beyond
Wonderland by Paul Young
Infected by The The
One - Metallica
Cloudbusting by Kate Bush

We could be here for ages...

Let's Go All The Way by Sly Fox

not sure if Gary Numan's Cars came out in 79 or not. i'd say it was still on the charts in the 80s, cut me some slack . Let's go All The Way IS a good choice. and how could i forget Need You Tonight (but only the video version that goes right into Mediate) from INXS, you're right this list can just keep growing

datdude said:

Sorry.

In my opinion,these are the best 10 pop singles from the 80s:

"Billie Jean" by Michael Jackson (1982)
"When Doves Cry" by Prince (1984)
"Like A Prayer" by Madonna (1989)
"Tempted" by Squeeze (1981)
"Careless Whisper" by Wham (1984)
"Super Freak" by Rick James (1981)
"Working For The Weekend" by Loverboy (1981)
"Lost In Emotion" by Lisa Lisa and Cult Jam (1987)
"Time (Clock Of The Heart)" by Culture Club (1983)
"I Can't Go For That (No Can Do)" by Hall and Oates (1981)

that's the cream of the crop,as far as 80s pop goes

Quintessential POP singles from the 80's, off the dome . . .

"Back In Black" -- AC/DC
"Start Me Up" -- The Rolling Stones
"Everybody Wants To Rule The World" -- Tears For Fears
"Nasty" -- Janet Jackson
"Land Down Under" -- Men At Work
"Super Freak" -- Rick James
"Tenderness" -- General Public
"Sledgehammer" -- Peter Gabriel
"She Blinded Me With Science" -- Thomas Dolby
"Do You Really Want To Hurt Me?" -- Culture Club
"Voices Carry" -- 'Til Tuesday
"Africa" -- Toto (I said it)
"Wishing Well" -- Terrence Trent D'Arby
"Lucky Star" -- Madonna
"Da Butt" -- E.U. (didn't this chart pop?)
"Billie Jean" -- Michael Jackson
"If You Leave" -- OMD
"Raspberry Beret" -- Prince and the Revolution
"Kiss" -- Prince and the Revolution
'Don't Disturb This Groove" -- The System
"Nite and Day" -- Al B. Sure
"Alphabet St." -- Prince
"Glory Days" -- Bruce Springsteen
"Walk This Way" -- Run-DMC

SoulAlive said:

One of these mo fos is doin' their own thing. At least two of your picks would go in my top 10 (if I were able to complete such a task), but no!

TommyRoss said:

what two songs from my list would go onto your Top 10?

SoulAlive said:

For sure Time (Clock of the Heart) and When Doves Cry.

TommyRoss said:

I can't get behind the dissing of "Billie Jean," but those two are classics!

AlexdeParis said:

Who's dissing Billie Jean?

TommyRoss said:

Oh, I see. You weren't really dissing it. Sorry.

These take me back

Kiss
Little Red Corvette
more prince...
Let's Dance
Sweet Child o Mine
I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For
Billie Jean
Sledgehammer
Sweet Dreams Are Made of These
Like A Virgin
Material Girl
What Have You Done For Me lately
What's Love Got to Do With It
Sexual Healing
Careless Whisper
I Want Your Sex
Just Like Starting Over
Every Day I Write The Book
Walk This Way
Fight The Power
My Perogative
Groove Me
Coming in the Air Tonight

True colours Cyndi L.
Gold Spandau Ballet
Everyday is like sunday Morrissey
The list could be a very long one wth Duran Duran and Maddness
For pop music it was in retrospect a truly amazing decade

Best of the nineties would be a more interesting thread

i see ppl started putting more "quintessential 80s songs" rather than their personal faves. its cool tho. some good titles. i had to refrain from Sweet Dreams by the Eurythmics, tho it would be the "quintessential" for them, i like Here Comes the Rain Again, Who's That Girl, or Missionary Man more. its hard do a list of 10. So if it helps any, what songs do you put on the most when u want some 80s pop? Who remembers:?

Always Something there to Remind Me - Naked Eyes
Breakout - Swing Out Sister
I Can't Wait - NuShooz

Did the 90s have a definitive sound or style?

Here's a some of my favorites (I've left out Prince and MJ)... and they're not all singles or famous...

Suburbia - Pet Shop Boys
Tarzan Boy- Baltimora
Big in Japan - Alphaville
Things can only get better - Howard Jones
Trapped - Colonel Abrams
Shout - Tears for Fears
Dare - Stan Bush (written by Vince Dicola and Scott Shelley)
Axel F - Harold Faltermeyer
Lavender - Marillion
Who needs love like that - Erasure
Tonight, Tonight, Tonight - Genesis
Dance Magic - David Bowie
Crush on you - The Jets
Who's Johnny - El Debarge
I Won´t Let The Sun Go Down On Me - Nik Kershaw
Rock me Amadeus - Falco
[Edited 12/28/06 23:35pm]

coolcat said:

Love that song and "The Touch"!

AlexdeParis said:

You have no idea how many times I've watched that scene in Transformers, when Dare is playing, and Hot Rod and Daniel are driving towards 'lookout mountain' and then the Decepticons attack... the music and action are so in sync...

I like the Touch also.

Don't Worry Be Happy - Bobby McFerrin
Your Love Is King - Sade
Welcome To The Jungle - Guns N Roses

and the usual Prince and MJ and Madonna ones

Why Can't I Be You - The Cure

Beethoven(I Love To) - The Eurythemics

Pop Goes The World - Men W/O Hats

Safety Dance - Men W/O Hats

This Is Not A Love Song - PIL

One for each year (X cept Prince)

1980 Fashion by David Bowie
1981 9-5 Morning train - Sheena Easton
1982 Pass the Dutchie - Musical Youth
1983 Break my Stride - Mathew Wilder, close second, Too Shy- Kajagoogoo
1984 The Riddle - Nick Kershaw
1985 Call Me - Go West
1986 Slow Rivers - Cliff Richard and Elton John, close Second Throwing it all away by Genesis
1987 Living on a Prayer - Bon Jovi
1988 Wishing Well or Sign ur name by Terence Trent D'arby, 2nd Got to be certain by Kylie Minogue.
1989 Like a Prayer by Madonna, 2nd Pump up the Jam by Technotronic feat Felly

Best Group/Artist
1. Prince (and various bands)
2. Madonna
3. Culture Club
4. Genesis/Phil Collins
5. David Bowie
6. Kylie Minogue
7. Michael Jackson
8. Go West
9. Erasure
10. The Pet Shop Boys

How Predictable

I'll go ahead and list just 10 that come to mind for me.

1. I Can Dream About You-Dan Hartman

2. Since Youre Gone-The Cars

3. Just Another Night-Mick Jagger

4. Seasons Change-Expose

5. Doo Doo Doo Da Da Da-The Police

6. Cant Stay Away From You-Gloria Estefan

7. Never Be The Same-Christopher Cross(very cheesy I know, a guilty pleasure I suppose)

8. Waiting For A Girl Like You-Foreigner

9. Invisible Touch-Genesis

10.Oh Sherrie-Steve Perry

Whip It - Devo
Abracadabra - Steve Miller Band
Jeopardy - Steve Miller Band
Rapture - Blondie
Another One Bites The Dust - Queen
Hit Me With Your Best Shot - Pat Benatar
Mickey - Toni Basil
We Got The Beat - The Go Gos
It's A Miracle - Culture Club
Jump - Van Halen
Talking In Your Sleep - The Romantics
Owner Of A Lonely Heart - Yes
One Thing Leads To Another - The Fix
99 Red Baloons - Nenah
Promises, Promises - Naked Eyes
She Blinded Me With Science - Thomas Dolby
Passion - Rod Stewart
Don't Stand So Close To Me - The Police
Let's Dance - David Bowie
Private Eyes - Hall and Oates
Relax - Frankie Goes To Hollywood
In The Air Tonight - Phil Collins
Miami Vice Theme - Jan Hammer
Conga - Miami Sound Machine
Everybody - Madonna
Obsession - Animotion
Some Like It Hot - Power Station
Don't You Want Me - Human League
Urgent - Foreigner
Girls Just Wanna Have Fun - Cyndi Lauper
Sweet Dreams - Eurythmics
Rock The Casbah - The Clash


There are lots more but I can't think of them right now.

You notice there are no R&B songs on my list. It used to piss me off to see R&B songs crossover to the pop charts because I knew it would go to their head and they would start making weak shit.

AlexdeParis said:

He'd better not be dissing "Billie Jean" I consider that to be the best pop single of the 80s.

SoulAlive said:

Good grief. What have you kids gotten your panties in a bunch over? I made no mention of Billie Jean.